Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education (Montessori)

This advanced Certificate enables graduates to work with children up to 6 years of age. Having gained 3 years’ experience in employment, graduates may apply for the post of Room Leader in a Montessori Pre-school, Naíonra, or in other early years services. During the course all students get the opportunity to complete 120 hours of work experience in a Montessori Early Years’ Service.

Students visit Blackrock Observatory to learn about our solar system and planet earth and also participate in hands on science experiments. As part of Continuous Professional Development, in the second term, students are offered Leadership Training and will also attend a Conference on ‘The Professionalization of Early Years Practitioners’. For students interested in sport, football training is also offered.

Child Development 6N1942 – Organise a variety of detailed observations in support of programme planning for individual and groups of children using a range of tools. Evaluate personal and team practice in meeting child development needs in an ECCE setting.

Early Childhood Curriculum 6N1944 – Explore a range of learning approaches for children under 6 years. Examine Aistear, the National Curriculum Framework & Siolta, the National Quality Framework and link these to theorists like Froebel, Montessori, Steiner, Weikart and Malaguzzi. Discuss the factors that make a curriculum.

Childhood Social Legal & Health Studies 6N1945 – Evaluate child protection guidance in relation to the protection of children and staff and learn to implement procedures for dealing with specific child protection issues. Reflect on how personal, cultural identity, attitudes and values can potentially impact on bias, discrimination and prejudice within ECCE settings. Evaluate a range of factors influencing and impacting on children’s health and wellbeing to include family structure, community, culture, education, health, social services and social status.

Work Experience 6N1946 – Present a detailed personal skills audit and career plan including personal goals, action points, development opportunities and career paths. Demonstrate supervisory skills and capacities in the workplace.

Personal & Professional Development 6N1949 – Identify the personal qualities and skills needed for effective participation in a registered Early Years workplace to include opportunities for further personal development and associated action plans. Learn strategies to resolve personal or interpersonal conflict by understanding different personalities. Learn to delegate tasks to others to include appropriate planning, identification of skills and strengths in others, review and management of any issues arising. Use strategies to recognise and cope with stress, setback and workplace pressure.

Early Learning Philosophy 6N1932 – Learn about a number of educators such as, Dr. Maria Montessori, Fredrich Froebel, Rudolf Steiner and David Weikart. Explore different activities and routines in various early years’ services. Learn about the layout of play rooms and pre-schools for children from 6 months to 5.5 years.

Early Learning Environment 6N1933 – Learn to plan play rooms & Montessori pre-school rooms which promote a child’s personal development and well being. Learn practical ways in which Montessori materials help children to explore, discover, problem solve leading to new skills and concepts.

Early Childhood Literacy and Numeracy 6N1935 – Learn how to enable children to develop mathematical and literacy skills in a practical age appropriate way which is underpinned by theoretical approaches. Explore a range of resources to support children’s learning using practical Montessori learning materials.

Early Childhood Arts and Culture 6N1936 – Learn a range of creative arts and cultural activities appropriate for children under 6 years which promote self expression, identity & belonging. Use a broad range of Montessori cultural activities and exercises.

Applicants must have a Leaving Certificate with 6 passes to include at least 2 H5 grades on Higher Level papers. English, Irish and Maths are required. Leaving Certificate subjects and a Level 5 Major award in Early Childhood Care and Education 5M2009 to include component ‘Children with Additional Needs’ 5N2396. Participants are required to be Garda Vetted. Police Clearance is required for non Irish Nationals.

St. Nicholas Montessori College Ireland: Montessori (NM701) Direct Entry to Year 3

CIT: Early Childhood Studies

Excellent progression opportunities to UCC and other Higher Education colleges. Special arrangements in place with CIT (CCPS), Tralee IT and Waterford IT for preferential entry for College of Commerce students. Up to 390 CAO points for any Institute of Technology can be attained by successful completion of this course. See Progressions for details.

Montessori Pre-school Teacher, Montessori Leader in Early Years setting, supervisory positions in early years settings and within organisations which require leaders to manage & provide childcare places. SNA positions in primary schools. All students can access the Jobs Advice Hub. Graduates can subscribe to ‘CCOC college jobs register’ and CCOC LinkedIn alumni for up to date vacancies and networking.

I started my Further Education with College of Commerce doing my FETAC Level 5 as it was known back then. The dedication of the teachers and material covered with College of Commerce spurred me on to do my Level 8 Honours degree at Cork Institute of Technology. Now, today, I am back where I started here at the college doing teaching practice for my Higher Diploma in Further Education. This could not have been achieved without College of Commerce for without it, things would have worked out very differently for me. I cannot praise the college highly enough for starting me on my educational journey.

Chris Howard, Childcare Graduate

I really enjoyed the course, the teachers were always really helpful and were a great support. I’m now working as a relief SNA and I love it!

Jessica Ryan, Childcare Graduate

A member of the Cork and National Council of the Association of Childhood Professionals advocating for the professionalisation of the Early Years Sector